A few years ago, what came to be called the origami kayak appeared. A proposal that was born with crowdfunding and then materialized as the Oru Kayak. This proposal, which comes from California, went from being something exotic that appeared on all geek and curiosity websites, to a company with a significant range of folding kayaks. Even other brands have launched similar models.
ORU KAYAK OR INFLATABLE?
Assembly is a bit more complicated than with an inflatable kayak, I don’t know about total time. But it does have more different steps, and it will be more difficult to assimilate than with an inflatable kayak. When it comes to cleaning, it seems to me that the Origami kayak is more practical. Being open, no dirt or salt water remains in a corner that you can’t reach well with the hose. And its material will dry even faster than in an inflatable kayak.
In terms of weight, they should be almost tied. However, the Oru wins in rigidity. The evolutions have been adding elements such as the deck closures and internal panels that achieve a kayak with a lot of longitudinal rigidity. In this point the inflatables fail, they are more “soft” and that shows in their behavior navigating.
In terms of shapes, the Oru kayak wins again since more streamlined and optimal lines are achieved to function in the water. With less width than in an inflatable kayak, and with less freeboard. I have already commented on this blog that inflatables, being so bulky in the part outside the water, are very sensitive to the wind. Let’s not forget that the Oru is a closed kayak with all that that means in terms of greater control of the canoe when maneuvering.
In terms of colors, I think the Oru people also get it right, since they are white, for me the ideal color. And the seats also have a design that offers comfort (they can be adjusted) and a lot of stability.
HOW DOES THE ORU KAYAK PERFORM?
Does it work, doesn’t it work?? Is it advisable to buy it?? I’m here to tell you all that and more. I must say that despite trying in a thousand ways, I have never been able to try one. And only once did I see one sailing from afar and I couldn’t get close. All my experience with it has been seeing it and touching it in a store. And informing myself on the net.
I’m not saying they are expensive. But with prices between 1000-2000 eur there are cheaper alternatives of rigid or inflatable kayaks. And it is difficult to try one. A high price and not having own references or from other kayakers, explain its few sales in Spain.
The Oru kayak is made of a single sheet of sandwich-type plastic. It has some formed folds, and when unfolded, it takes the shape of a kayak. The manufacturer guarantees that the material supports 20,000 folds and unfolds before offering breaks, or deformations. The material when I saw it seemed to me that the brand was not lying. And that the sandwich panel itself offers minimal buoyancy, at least to the kayak.
EVOLUTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS
Regarding the first Oru models, the way to close the kayak “from above” (the deck) has been improved. Now it mounts some guides that reduce the entry of water. I have already commented that it has internal bulkheads that increase rigidity, and that it does not come out if we put luggage or dry bags there. The issue is that to access it you have to remove those guides and disassemble the bow and stern closures. Quite cumbersome.
And in the bow and stern it has closures and plugs, to prevent the entry of water. To all that is added some shapes in the bow and stern to reinforce those areas so delicate to rubbing and impacts. And I imagine that those pieces will improve the hydrodynamics. In any case, a defect of the Oru kayak is that it can be completely flooded. On the shore nothing happens, but far from it it is a danger. In the middle of the sea if it fills with a lot of water it must be difficult to empty, and that the hull withstands so much weight if we lift it to evacuate it.
Just like in inflatable kayaks, the issue of storing it at home, or facilitating transport are very powerful weapons, and tempting arguments in favor of the Oru. Carrying it on your shoulder must be cumbersome, although they sell backpacks to carry it on your back. Even so, it is an interesting companion if you travel by plane or motorhome.
ORU RANGE, MORE MODELS
The range has remained stable for years. The oru kayak bay st model which is the initial one. Then they have released simpler, and open models designed for very calm waters such as those of a lake or pond. A two-seater model (Haven TT), but being open, a lot of water can enter, and as I have commented, be a problem. Already for the more adventurous, there is the Coast XT with the lines and measurements of a sea kayak, and the necessary rigidity to negotiate waves.
There is some other brand that manufactures origami kayaks. The ones that generate the most confidence in me are the Germans from the Nortik brand. And well, some people have commented to me that these Oru go very well, although they recognize that they are a little behind a rigid kayak. They didn’t talk about the price because those people sold kayaks. I’m not saying they were lying to me, but I’m putting their opinion a little in quarantine.
